Adoption support social worker jobs
ob Title: Family Finding Social Worker/Senior Practitioner
Contract: Temporary (9 months – maternity cover)
Hours: 35 hours per week (Full Time)
Salary: £39,725.60 - £42,764.10 per annum (Social Worker), £43,880 - £47,355.60 per annum (Senior Practitioner), dependent on skills and experience
Location: Harrow (Council Building) with flexibility for home working
About Coram
Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.
We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.
Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.
Coram Ambitious for Adoption Regional Adoption Agency [RAA] is a commissioned Voluntary Adoption Agency delivering statutory adoption support services and family finding located in the Harrow Council building, but as part of the wider RAA partnership located across London and surrounding areas. The hub services for the RAA include the recruitment, assessment and support of adopters which is located at the Coram Campus in London. We are currently recruiting for either a Social Worker or Senior Practitioner to lead and develop the family finding service for the London Borough of Harrow.
The post holder will be employed by Coram, a service with a long track record of serving children well and outstanding ratings from Ofsted. The task for the Regional Adoption Agency is to ensure that all children who have a plan for adoption are given every chance to have that ambition realised and when placed in a permanent family receive relevant support as their needs change and develop.
About the Role
We are seeking a dynamic family finding Social Worker or Senior Practitioner wishing to play an active role in the delivery and development of a high quality adoption service as part of the Coram Ambitious for Adoption RAA. The post holder will be based in London Borough of Harrow and will have access to services within Harrow to undertake the family finding task and be part of a bigger network of practitioners from across the RAA. All Coram staff are actively engaged in activities with colleagues to improve the quality of services and to develop themselves as adoption practitioner.
We are committed to making adoption happen for children where this is the plan and are very proud to be working with our adopters and our adopted young people in shaping the future of the service. We will be maintaining the very best of local authority adoption practice and the outstanding family finding services at Coram to deliver an innovative adoption service that will transform children’s lives. The family finding service is a key platform of delivery for Coram Ambitious for Adoption regional agency that will be growing and transforming as the regional agency progresses in the next year, and new staff will play a significant role in these developments.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button to be redirected to our company website to complete the application.
Closing Date: 9am, Monday 16th February 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We actively encourage applicants from Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds to join our teams. Whilst we have a diverse team we recognise we are a predominantly white workforce and are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from diverse communities in order to improve the services to the children and families we help.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
Job Title: West London Family Support Worker
Salary: £25,353.06
Team: Family Support Team
Hours: 30
Location: Based at Shooting Star House (Hampton), This role will be working across sites and in the community
About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our teams support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.
About the role
Family Support Workers (FSW) are the frontline of our care. Each FSW holds a caseload of end-of-life and bereaved families. They get to know their families, and check-in regularly with phone calls and home visits and can provide enhanced emotional support where required through more regular contact and interventions. Our FSWs tell families about the many services they can access at Shooting Star, assess their needs and make recommendations to our multi-disciplinary team. They support families of different ethnicities and families living in poverty, helping our service be as accessible as possible.
Our FSWs work closely with our Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Transition Team and our Care Events Team. Weekly MDT meetings bring the team together to think of ways to help families in crisis. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where the families need it. Our Family Support Workers are hugely appreciated by the families we support.
The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. Day to day duties are:
- Being the on-site duty FSW, welcoming families on site, monitoring email inboxes and answering the Family Support Line.
- Helping with support groups and family events
- Providing on the spot emotional support, sometimes in a crisis where a calm and supportive response is required.
- Visiting newly bereaved families in their homes.
- Supporting families staying at our Christopher’s hospice (booked stays and end of life).
- Attending various locations over the course of a week: hospice, hospital, family homes.
- Building connections with families from different backgrounds, delivering culturally sensitive care.
- Helping safeguard families at risk of harm.
- Acting as an ambassador for Shooting Star’s Specialist Bereavement Service, supporting other care team members with their learning and delivery of the bereavement pathway, and continually seeking ways to improve what we offer families.
The post holder will need to have a UK driving license.
The hours are predominantly worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Once a month, the FSW will work a weekend day (with advance notice). This is in place of a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that week.
About you
This role requires experience of working with children and families who have experienced hardship, or those with complex needs. You should have a calm, positive manner, conveying empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries. We are looking for someone passionate about supporting children and families.
Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
What we offer
In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:
Pension scheme
- NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
Annual leave
- 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
- 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
Contractual benefits
- Generous sick pay scheme
- Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
- Flexible working arrangements
- Death in service benefits
- Reimbursed professional membership fees
- Eye care
- Employee referral scheme
- Blue Light discount card
Health and wellbeing
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Occupational Health
- Mindfulness sessions
- Cycle to work scheme
- Mental Health First Aiders
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.
We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.
Anticipated Start Date: 06/04/2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.
As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.
We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in Middlesbrough. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.
A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.
The role at a glance
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Application deadline - 9am Tuesday 24th February 2026
Interview day (in-person) - Thursday 5th March 2026
Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate
Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30
(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)
Centre Leaders are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres
Location
IntoUniversity Middlesbrough
The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day). Periodic travel out of the area is also required e.g. to London, this may include occasional overnight stays.
Salary
£36,400 per annum.
Annual leave
33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days)
Staff benefits
- Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
- Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm
- Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year
- Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support
- Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
- Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000
- Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
- Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year
IntoUniversity provides local learning centres where young people are inspired to achieve.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Refuge Worker
Location: Lambeth, London
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call Rota).
We are looking for a Refuge Worker to work within our culturally specific refuge to provide specialist, high-quality support to women and children escaping domestic abuse. Based in Lambeth, London, this role involves delivering practical and emotional support to survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them rebuild their lives. Working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, you will create a safe and welcoming environment in line with Refuge’s values and commitment to ending violence against women and girls.
As a Refuge Worker, you will support women through crisis, providing keywork sessions, safety planning, and advocacy. You will assist with accessing housing, welfare, legal support, and other essential services while maintaining accurate case records. You will also play a vital role in ensuring the effective operation of the refuge, managing referrals, and working collaboratively with partner agencies. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and resilient individual with strong communication and organisational skills. While experience in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector is beneficial, we also welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a commitment to supporting survivors. Above all, we value individuals who are dedicated to making a difference, thrive in an inclusive environment, and are committed to their own personal development while supporting others.
This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while developing valuable frontline support and advocacy experience. Refuge offers ongoing training, professional development, and a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring that our staff are valued and supported in their roles. If you are passionate about empowering survivors and want to be part of a dedicated, compassionate organisation, we encourage you to apply.
Closing Date: 09:00am 27 February 2026
Interview Date: 12 and 13 March 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title - Events Officer
Contract - Permanent, Full Time
Hours - 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary - £32,158 per annum
Location - Based at Coram Campus, Bloomsbury, London and hybrid of office and home working (at least one day a week in the office)
About CoramBAAF
We are the UK’s leading membership organisation for professionals working across adoption, fostering and kinship care. We provide information, best practice guidance, advice, training and resources to support our members and influence policy to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Our corporate members in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland represent 94% of all local authorities as well as regional adoption agencies, health and social care trusts, independent fostering providers and voluntary adoption agencies, and cover 88% of all children and family social workers.
Our 650+ individual and associate members - comprising lawyers, health professionals, educational institutions, therapeutic and family support services, and more - reflect the multidisciplinary nature of our work.
Together, our members make up the largest network of organisations and individuals involved with children in their journey through the care system.
About the Coram Group
CoramBAAF is part of the Coram Group. Our mission is to develop, deliver and promote best practice in the support of children and young people. Our vision is that every child has the best possible chance to lead a fulfilling life. We champion what matters most for children, creating better chances, and a brighter, happier future.
About the role
CoramBAAF has a long-standing reputation as a provider of high-quality webinars, training, conference and consultancy services aimed at social work, health care and legal professionals. CoramBAAF runs a workshop, events and conference programme and offers bespoke training services to agencies. We run a mix of face-to-face and remote delivery. Consultancy services typically include responding to specific commissions to review aspects of services.
We are looking for someone to join our small, dedicated team as Events Officer. This role is pivotal in organising and co-ordinating our webinar programmes, dissemination events and conferences. As part of the Training, Consultancy and Events team, they work in close collaboration with staff across CoramBAAF including colleagues with roles in policy and development and membership services. The successful candidate will be able to work on their own initiative; be good at managing priorities and meeting deadlines as well as being able to work with a wide range of external stakeholders.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.
Please ensure you include information to show where you meet all the essential criteria.
Closing date: 24th February 2026 at 5pm, applications may close early depending on the volume of applicants
Interview date: 4th March 2026, please keep the date free. You will be notified by Friday 27th February if you are invited to interview. Interviews will take up to 1.5 hours and include a presentation and skills test.
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.
If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Neotree: The Digital Learning Health System
Neotree is an award-winning digital learning health system co-designed with frontline clinicians to end preventable newborn deaths in low-resource settings. Our open-source platform integrates real-time, knowledge-based clinical decision support (CDS), structured data capture, and visual dashboards into routine neonatal care. Currently active in 18 healthcare facilities, Neotree has supported care for 60,000 newborns and trained over 3,000 health workers to date. Neotree is the only platform of its kind with a defined pathway to embed AI-enabled decision support into routine neonatal care in sub-Saharan Africa.
Neotree: The Charity
The UK charity was established by core members of the University College London (UCL) Neotree research project to maximise the impact of their research on the quality of newborn care and newborn mortality. After five years of rapid growth and proven clinical impact, Neotree is seeking a visionary Executive Director to lead our next chapter. Having evolved from an innovative research pilot into a multi-country digital health intervention, integrated into routine neonatal care in Malawi and Zimbabwe, Neotree is poised for national-scale rollout and scale up, alongside rigorous ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
The Opportunity: Impact at Scale
By 2030 the ambition is for Neotree to be a fully integrated, sustainable standard of care across Malawi and Zimbabwe, having been handed over to, and owned by, their respective Ministries of Health. The incoming Executive Director will lead this transition, shifting the organisation from a research-led implementation partner to one able to scale up a digital public good (currently a DPGA Nominee with a full submission for DPG designation under review).
While the technological landscape, and specific delivery modules, will evolve, the Executive Director will ensure Neotree remains a safe, cost-effective, equitable, and evidence-based system that is successfully embedded within national digital health infrastructures.
The Executive Director's success will be measured collaboratively, focusing on KPIs related to impact and sustainability, and they will work alongside experienced clinical, technical, and academic leads.
Location: Remote within 2-3 hours of Central Africa Time (CAT), with approximately quarterly travel (including to Malawi, Zimbabwe and the UK).
Reports to: Board of Trustees
Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
Key Responsibilities
1. Operations, Clinical Safety & Quality Assurance
1.1. Senior Operational Oversight: Provide high-level oversight of Neotree’s operations across 18 healthcare facilities in Malawi and Zimbabwe, ensuring that the "baby-first" mission is consistently delivered on the ground.
1.2. Clinical Safety & Ethical Governance: Lead the overarching strategy for clinical safety and ethical compliance. Ensure the platform remains a safe and effective clinical tool, and that all operations comply with international data protection and health governance best practices.
1.3. Quality & Effectiveness: Oversee the continuous improvement and optimisation of the Neotree platform based on real-world feedback from frontline clinical staff, ensuring the system remains highly acceptable and trusted by healthcare professionals.
2. Management: People, Grants & Finance
2.1. International Team Leadership: Lead, oversee and inspire a multi-disciplinary, multi-country team (UK, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa), fostering a culture of agility, collaboration, and excellence.
2.2. Develop local leadership and support the growth of country-based teams, ensuring long-term sustainability through in-country capacity building.
2.3. Financial & Grant Management:
2.3.1. Provide robust oversight of the charity’s finances, including budget setting and cash flow.
2.3.2. Lead the management of complex institutional grants (e.g. FCDO, Gates Foundation), ensuring all milestones and reporting requirements are met.
2.3.3. Manage relationships with multiple downstream partners.
3. Governance & Accountability
3.1. Statutory Compliance: Lead Neotree’s reporting and compliance with the Charity Commission, HMRC, Companies House, donors and other relevant legislation. Oversee internal and external audits.
3.2. Board Development & Relations: Act as the primary link to the Board of Trustees, providing transparent reporting on risks, financial performance, and strategic progress. Work proactively with the Chair to strengthen the board, supporting its growth and ensuring its membership is representative of the diverse international contexts and communities Neotree serves.
3.3. Risk Management: Serve as the ultimate lead for organisational risk, identifying and mitigating risks to protect the charity’s reputation, clinical safety, and financial health.
3.4. Organisational & Innovation Governance: Responsible for the continuous review and implementation of all policies (HR, due diligence, safeguarding, clinical and data governance etc.). Ensure policies are legally compliant across international operations.
4. Strategy & Impact Scaling
4.1. Overall Strategy: Lead the development and execution of Neotree’s business model and strategy to scale impact globally, ensuring the sustainable growth and wider adoption of Neotree as a digital public good.
4.2. Evidence base: Work closely with Neotree’s academic team at University College London to identify and address evidence gaps, to support on Neotree research grants (e.g. NIHR, Gates Foundation), and to ensure academic insights are translated directly into clinical impact and national policy.
4.3. Tech Strategy & Interoperability: Lead the development and execution of Neotree's digital strategy. A key focus will be driving the roadmap for system interoperability to ensure Neotree is a future-proofed platform. This includes FHIR compatibility and integration with national systems, such as DHIS2 and national EHRs, to support seamless data exchange.
4.4. Fundraising Strategy: Design and deliver a diverse fundraising strategy that further moves the organisation toward financial resilience and reduced dependence on major academic grants.
4.5. Partnerships & External Relations: Serve as one of the primary ambassadors for Neotree, alongside our Principal Investigators and co-founder Professor Michelle Heys. Define priority stakeholders, and build and maintain relationships with those high-level strategic partners to drive adoption and raise Neotree’s profile.
Key Priorities for the First 12-18 Months
The new Executive Director will focus on the following key priorities during their initial 12-18 months:
1. Successful Project Delivery & Ministry of Health Partnerships. Ensure successful delivery of the projects currently in flight, in both Malawi and Zimbabwe. This includes partnerships with the Ministries of Health in both countries to build and hand over neonatal modules in their EHR systems based on Neotree, and support their successful rollout.
2. Strategic Plan Development. Develop a 3-5 year plan with the Board, academic partners, and wider project team to build on our existing foundation to expand Neotree – including addressing research gaps, using AI to improve clinical decision support, and finding ways to expand the adoption of the technology in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and beyond. Sustainability is a core part of that strategy.
3. Strategic Plan Execution. Execute on that plan, including securing funding, building partnerships, and further developing the Neotree team.
Person Specification
Personal attributes and skillset
- Overall: Values-driven, mission alignment, humility, and commitment to equitable partnership.
- Visionary Leadership: An inspiring leader who can balance day-to-day operations with a long-term strategic focus. You can articulate a clear future for Neotree that motivates an international team and aligns global partners toward making Neotree a national standard of care, ensuring every innovation remains underpinned by our "baby-first" mission.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: You must thrive in a landscape that is constantly shifting. You can pivot strategies as national digital health priorities evolve or as new technological partners emerge. You are comfortable with ambiguity and can steer the organisation through the "unknowns" of the next five+ years.
- Communication & Collaborative Mindset: You are a bridge-builder. You have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across international borders and multidisciplinary partners, linking academic research, technical development, and frontline clinical delivery.
Experience
1. Education: Master’s degree (MSc, MPH, MBA) in a relevant field (e.g. Global Health, International Development, Digital Health).
2. Proven track record of overseeing delivery of health services and/or health interventions (ideally in low-resource settings).
3. Experience of working in partnership with Ministries of Health strengthening health systems.
4. Proven experience in scaling an organisation or a digital product / health intervention from a pilot phase to a national or regional standard.
5. Experience of leading multidisciplinary, multi-cultural teams, both in person and remotely.
6. Experience of monitoring and evaluating health programmes.
7. Experience managing complex grants, and diverse revenue streams (grants, philanthropy, or social enterprise models).
Desirable
- AI & Innovation: Understanding of the ethical and practical implications of integrating AI/Machine Learning into healthcare.
- Governance: Familiarity with UK charity governance, including reporting to the Charity Commission and Companies House.
Equal opportunities
Neotree values diversity and is committed to equal opportunities. All applicants for employment will receive equal treatment without discrimination on grounds of gender, race, ethnic or national origins, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation, or any other grounds. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds, and the low-resource settings in which we work, to ensure we have a well-balanced and widely representative staff base.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
A rare chance to join an incredibly supportive and inclusive employer that values hard work, flexiblity and employee well-being, and recognised by the GM Good Employment Charter! We are a small but vastly experienced team of family support/volunteer Coordinators, delivering highly respected volunteer-led home visiting support to families in the early years.
We are looking for someone to provide direct support to families and also recruit, train and support a team of local parent/carer volunteers who will provide weekly home visiting and community support to families.
You will work with other professionals from universal and specialist services to provide a coordinated response to families’ needs. You will assess need and risk prior to carefully matching volunteers with families or offering direct support, working as part of multi agency support, ensuring information sharing and safeguarding is at the forefront of your work. This will include instigating Early Help assessments, preparing for and attending Child in Need and Child Protection meetings.
You will have an understanding of recruiting, carefully selecting and managing volunteers to ensure they feel supported and fully trained to offer effective support to families in order to get the best outcomes for the family and in particular the children.
You will be experienced in working with families in their own home - skilled in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns, be apt in completing strengths-based assessments and conversations and have a deep understanding of the issues families can face and the link with childhood development and difficulties they may experience later in life.
Supporting families to give their children the best possible start in life, because we believe childhood can't wait

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Purpose
The Head of People & Culture ensures that Citizens UK has the people, organisational capacity and enabling culture required to deliver its mission of building people power and strengthening civil society. The role plays a central part in securing a workforce that is capable, motivated and aligned with Citizens UK’s values, enabling the organisation to build strong alliances, support local leadership and achieve lasting social change.
Working as part of the senior leadership team, and under the direction of the Executive Director, Finance & Operations, the role strengthens organisational effectiveness by embedding fair, inclusive and well-governed people practices. Through sound employment frameworks, statutory compliance and a culture that supports engagement, performance and wellbeing, the Head of People & Culture safeguards Citizens UK’s resilience, reputation and ability to deliver impact at scale.
Main Responsibilities
Working as the Head of People & Culture for Citizens UK, reporting to the Executive Director, Finance & Operations, your main responsibilities will include:
People & Culture Strategy
Ensure Citizens UK has the people, capability and organisational shape required to deliver its mission and sustain impact over time.
· Analyse organisational strategy, change priorities and external context to identify their implications for people, capability, structure and ways of working.
· Carry out workforce planning to assess current and future capacity and capability, identifying gaps, risks and realistic options to address them.
· Develop, maintain and refresh the People & Culture strategy so it responds directly to organisational needs and provides clear priorities for action.
· Provide expert people and culture advice to the Executive Leadership Team and Board, informing strategic discussions, trade-offs and decisions.
Talent Management
Develop and implement talent management processes that ensure Citizens UK attracts, retains and sustains the people needed to deliver its work.
· Lead recruitment, selection and onboarding to bring in people who can perform effectively in their roles and are aligned with Citizens UK’s values.
· Develop and maintain retention approaches focused on the key drivers of retention, including meaningful work, effective management, development opportunities, wellbeing, inclusion and fair treatment.
· Identify critical roles and critical talent and put in place practical succession and risk-mitigation plans, including knowledge transfer, handover planning and interim cover where needed.
· Monitor employee experience across the employment lifecycle, using insight from feedback and people data to improve people practices and ways of working.
Performance, Leadership & Capability
Strengthen organisational effectiveness by enabling teams to perform well, grow in capability and contribute consistently to shared goals.
· Maintain and operate performance management processes, including objective setting, regular feedback and reviews, ensuring that staff are clear on expectations and accountable for results.
· Support managers to address performance issues constructively by clarifying expectations, strengthening feedback, building capability and resolving barriers to effective performance.
· Coordinate and deliver learning and development activity that supports managers and staff to build skills, leadership capability and confidence in their roles.
Organisational Culture, Engagement & Wellbeing
Foster a working environment where people feel engaged, supported and able to do their best work together.
· Promote Citizens UK’s values in everyday people practices, supporting managers to translate values into consistent behaviours, decision-making and ways of working.
· Design and operate staff engagement and feedback mechanisms, ensuring staff voice is heard, themes are analysed, and practical actions are taken in response.
· Develop and maintain wellbeing approaches that support psychological safety, healthy workload management, early resolution of concerns and sustainable working practices.
· Support constructive relationships with the Trade Union and enable effective consultation and dialogue on people-related matters.
EDI & Safeguarding
Ensure Citizens UK is equitable, inclusive and safe for all by embedding fairness, care and accountability into how the organisation operates.
· Develop and implement Equity, Diversity and Inclusion priorities, using clear measures to monitor progress, identify gaps and support accountability across the organisation.
· Embed EDI considerations into recruitment, progression, policy development and everyday people decisions, working closely with relevant colleagues to ensure consistency in practice.
· Act as the People & Culture lead for safeguarding, ensuring responsibilities are clear, processes are understood, and concerns are handled appropriately, sensitively and in line with agreed procedures.
· Support managers and leaders to recognise and address inclusion or safeguarding issues early, escalating concerns where required and ensuring appropriate follow-up.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Ensure Citizens UK has a clear, effective and trusted people governance framework that supports lawful decision-making, fair treatment and organisational confidence.
· Develop, review and maintain People & Culture policies and procedures, ensuring they are legally compliant, values-aligned and understood by managers and staff.
· Provide day-to-day advice and guidance on people-related risk and compliance, identifying emerging issues early and supporting proportionate, lawful responses.
· Manage disciplinary, grievance and other formal employment processes, ensuring fairness, consistency, appropriate documentation and timely resolution.
Systems & HR Operations
Ensure the efficient, reliable and compliant administration of people processes and systems.
· Operate and maintain HR systems, payroll processes and core people administration, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality and compliance with organisational and legal requirements.
· Review and improve people processes to reduce duplication, minimise manual work and improve efficiency, making best use of available technology and automation.
· Maintain accurate and up-to-date people records and data, ensuring information is accessible, secure and fit for reporting, audit and operational needs.
Functional Leadership & Resource Management
Build and manage CUK’s People & Culture function, ensuring that staff and resources contribute effectively to achievement of CUK’s mission.
· Plan, prioritise and sequence People & Culture work to ensure available capacity is focused on the organisation’s most important people risks and priorities.
· Manage the People & Culture budget, including payroll, monitoring spend and applying value-for-money principles in line with organisational policies.
· Manage People & Culture staff and outsourced service providers utilising an engaging leadership style to support effective delivery of expectations.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Qualifications
· (E) CIPD qualification (Level 7) or equivalent senior-level professional experience in People / HR leadership
· (D) Degree or equivalent qualification in human resources, organisational development, management or a related field
Experience
· (E) Significant experience in a senior People / HR role, ideally within a charity, not-for-profit or values-driven organisation
· (E) Experience of leading and delivering people and culture priorities in complex, mission-led organisations
· (E) Experience of advising Executive and Board-level stakeholders on people, culture, governance and risk matters
· (E) Experience of operating as a senior, hands-on HR generalist, covering strategy, policy, employee relations and operational delivery
· (E) Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, performance management and organisational change
· (D) Experience of working with trade unions or staff representative bodies
Key skills and knowledge
· (E) Strong generalist HR expertise across employment law, compliance, safeguarding, performance management and people governance
· (E) Proven ability to design and implement practical people processes that support performance, inclusion and wellbeing
· (E) Strong coaching capability, with the ability to support managers to address performance, capability and behavioural issues constructively
· (E) Ability to manage complex employee relations matters with judgement, fairness and confidence
· (E) Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present clear advice and recommendations to senior leaders and boards
· (D) Knowledge of HR systems, people data and process improvement to support efficient delivery
Personal qualities & values
· (E) Strong commitment to social justice, inclusion and the values and mission of Citizens UK
· (E) Values-led and relational leadership style, combining empathy, integrity and pragmatism
· (E) Resilient and adaptable, able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment
· (E) Comfortable working within an accountable team culture, open to feedback, reflective practice and continuous improvement
· (D) Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends, and to travel when required to support organisational priorities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you looking to work with an organisation that is supportive and puts the need of the Young People that we support at the forefront of everything we do?
We are looking for a Senior Residential Manager and Responsible Individual to join our Children and Families Team. You will be working across several of our Children’s Residential Services in Greater Manchester, being the designated Responsible Individual for these services you will work closely with the Registered Managers and their teams to ensure our services are evidencing best safeguarding practice and are judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.
The Together Trust is one of the North West’s leading charities, offering individual care, support, and education to hundreds of Children, Young People, and Adults each year. We are a not-for-profit charitable trust, so every penny goes back into benefiting the people that we support.
Together we make a difference, develop and learn, and support each other. Every day with us is different, but our mission remains the same: helping the people we support celebrate along the road to a brighter future.
We are an employer that promotes a caring work environment and individual employee wellbeing with an excellent work / life balance.
Location Hybrid working across Greater Manchester
Hours 37.5 hours – with some on call duty (£40 for weekdays, £80 for weekend days and £120 for Bank holidays)
Salary £55,184 - (£28.30ph) with 2 yearly increments
The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people that we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you are successful in your application, you will be employed under the job title “Principal Manager” as shown on the job description that is attached to this vacancy.
About the Position…
Our Senior Residential Manager and Responsible Individual supports the Head of Service in the delivery of the Trusts residential services for cared for children. You will oversee several services that provide support to vulnerable young people, working across a range of differing needs.
- Line-manage and support children’s residential registered managers to ensure high‑quality person‑centred care across all services.
- Ensure all registered children’s homes comply with standards, regulations, policies, and procedures, with effective systems supporting staff in delivering care.
- Act as the Responsible Individual for designated children’s homes or services.
- Lead quality‑assurance processes to maintain good or outstanding practice and clearly evidence outcomes for children.
- Ensure registered managers promote and safeguard the welfare and well‑being of children in residential care.
- Work with our People and Culture team to improve staff recruitment and retention, supporting managers with staffing matters including disciplinary, capability, practice concerns, and internal investigations.
- Promote the trust’s residential services externally, develop relationships with external stakeholders, support referrals and placements, and participate in relevant conferences and events.
- Ensure delegated budgets are managed in line with financial procedures and that each residential service meets income and expenditure targets.
- Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Social Care Common Inspection Framework.
About the you…
Do you have the following skills and experience,
- Level 5 Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare of equivalent
- Significant Children’s Residential experience as a Registered Manager or suitable equivalent, experienced in promoting high quality children’s residential services.
- Strong knowledge of childcare legislation and OFSTED inspection requirements.
- Extensive experience leading high-quality residential services for young people with complex social or health needs, understanding care planning, transitions, and leaving care.
- Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with local authority officers and commissioners.
- Knowledge of leadership and management principles, including managing change and managing of service budgets, including income and expenditure.
- An analytical approach to report writing, continuing improvement of services and measurement of care outcomes.
- A full current driving licence – mileage will be paid at 45p per mile
- Up-to-date IT skills and the ability to use electronic recording systems (Clearcare) to improve service delivery.
- A flexible approach to work, including some weekend on-call requirements.
Benefits Include…
- 27 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years.
- Generous pension scheme with 4% employer contributions and death in service benefit up to 6× basic salary.
- Occupational sick pay and family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
- Discount and rewards platform with savings on retail, travel, insurance and more.
- Eligibility for the Blue Light Card.
- Proud to be a Real Living Wage employer.
- Refer-a-friend scheme with financial rewards.
- Extensive training and development, including apprenticeships.
- Long service awards, including cash gifts and additional leave.
- Wellbeing support, including Mental Health First Aiders and free weekly yoga (in person or online).
- Employee Assistance Programme available to you and adult members of your household.
To discover the full details of this rewarding role within the Together Trust look at our Job Description and Role Profile that are attached to this vacancy.
The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people that we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience.
If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way, please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can do to support you
The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Safeguarding checks will be undertaken for the successful candidate in line with our safer recruitment policy, including an Enhanced DBS check (at no cost to yourself).
This role will involve regulated activity.
We are a UK charity supporting children in care and people with disabilities, autism and complex needs in the North West.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.
Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting over 475,000 people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.
Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty. As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.
Purpose
At Citizens UK, our organisers and project staff work within communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. There are various project roles and operational, communication, finance and HR roles that support the organisation and project staff and organisers to deliver on this mission and work. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training.
Main Responsibilities
We are looking for highly motivated and organised individual to coordinate our accreditation scheme. The role will work with our network of employers, and support new organisations through the accreditation process.
The Programme Officer will lead our work in Yorkshire and Humber support our Managers to grow and deepen engagement with Living Wage Employers through our associated schemes. You will help to ensure our resources and publicity materials are well written and up-to-date, and to coordinate events to grow our employer network.
Working as the Programme Officer for Citizens UK, reporting to a Programme Manager, your main responsibilities will include:
Contribute towards the achievement of CUK and LWF’s strategic objectives
Understand how the role contributes to LWF’s purpose and the core mission of CUK.
Reliably implement CUK’s and LWF’s policies, procedures, and values in own work.
Work with CUK community organisers and leaders to promote civic engagement with and ownership of the Living Wage campaign.
Feed into the LWF strategy and objectives development.
Living Wage Accreditation:
Support key contacts at potential LW Employers through the accreditation process, from dealing with initial enquiries to guiding them through the employer journey, to checking and processing their accreditation.
Develop rewarding relationships with key employers, industry, and campaign partners within our networks to build interest in the Living Wage and deliver a high-quality experience to our accredited employers.
With support from the wider team, develop plans and strategies to grow the number of accreditations in specific regions or industries.
Collate and disseminate Living Wage criteria and policy issues through both internal and external facing guidance, whilst reviewing and monitoring its suitability.
Support the development and implementation of projects to promote and grow Living Wage accreditations and develop the quality of service offered.
Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively
Successfully progress projects and tasks incl. tracking performance and expenditure.
Deliver agreed areas of the LWF’s work plan and leading on agenda items to report into team meetings.
Support the growth and development of new and existing Living Wage schemes incl. Recognised Service Providers, LW Funders, LW Places, Living Hours, Global Living Wage and Living Work Consultancy.
Deliver personal work targets on time and to standard:
Respond to telephone and web-based enquiries by providing advice and support to employers and supporters.
Provide administrative support for all aspects of the accreditation journey, incl. processing accreditations, recognitions, and renewals.
Maintain LWF data on systems, incl. Salesforce employer database.
Support the maintenance of our systems to ensure efficient processes and develop reporting mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation of our impact and progress against plans.
Coordinate and administrate Steering, Advisory or Leadership Groups as required, incl. coordinating agendas, sending out timely papers, taking minutes and following up on actions.
Learning & expertise
Keep abreast of new developments in the accreditation space.
Apply new learning to work and respond effectively to feedback.
Work collaboratively with the LWF and franchise teams to share learnings and experience and ensure that we are meeting the expectations of our network and stakeholders.
Develop and manage external relationships
Effectively develop and support a range of external relationships.
Respond effectively to queries or requests from stakeholders.
Engage with a diverse range of external stakeholders to support and develop projects as required.
Communications
Communicate effectively within the LWF; ensuring that messages are reliably passed to those who need to know.
Represent the LWF coherently in writing and verbally.
Events and Communications.
Plan and organise events to celebrate and grow our network of LW Employers, incl. playing an active role in the delivery of LW Week and assisting colleagues with event logistics
Represent and speak on behalf of the LWF at internal and external meetings and events.
Develop or feed into employer resources incl. marketing materials, blogs, reports, templates, and guides.
Develop and manage internal relationships
Work effectively with colleagues across Citizens UK.
Work collaboratively within the LWF team and actively participate in the team to ensure we meet the expectations of our network and stakeholders.
Generate income and resources
Contribute to plans and proposals to grow sources of income/resource.
Take personal responsibility for the careful stewardship of LWF’s resources.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
EXPERIENCE:
Comprehensive experience in an administrative role (E)
Experience of building positive relationships (E)
Experience of managing and updating Salesforce or similar databases (D)
Experience of delivering a range of high quality communications materials, including websites, reports, newsletters (D)
KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E)
Understanding of database and systems management (E)
Ability to take in and interpret information and present in a succinct manner (E)
Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders (E)
Ability to act on own initiative to introduce and develop new systems as appropriate (E)
Strong attention to detail (E)
Strong IT skills to include MS Office and database software (E)
Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape in the UK (D)
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E)
A strong commitment to the Living Wage campaign and principles of Citizens UK (E)
About the application process
We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.
For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.
Interviews will be in person in Leeds, week commencing 30th March.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.
This is a new and exciting role at Crisis Skylight Birmingham to join a team of experienced and highly skilled staff supporting homeless people move into their own long term sustainable tenancies.
Job Title: Lettings Officer (Internally this role is known as Landlord Liaison Officer)
Location: Crisis Skylight Birmingham, 25 Heath Mill Lane, B9 4AE
Contract: Fixed Term Contract until July 2027
About the role
As Landlord Liaison Officer, you will join our team in Birmingham at an exciting time, delivering an outstanding property procurement service across the private and social rented sector. Working alongside our team of lead worker coaches you will identify appropriate matches of tenants and homes. It’s a role requiring commercial acumen and creativity as you partner with both social and private landlords to source accommodation for our members. You will work collaboratively with partners and staff across the organisation to ensure tenants receive the support they need to sustain their homes and landlord relationships are nurtured. There is scope for development of the role and plenty of support. It’s a fantastic opportunity to make the role your own and shape it from the beginning.
About you
To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate the following skills, experience and knowledge:
- Experience of sourcing, procuring, and allocating accommodation and making tenancies work for tenants and landlords
- Knowledge of the Birmingham (and surrounding areas) housing market and the barriers and opportunities faced by people who are homeless
- Experience of working with homeless people and supporting them achieve a positive housing outcome
- Understanding of housing law
- Developing, building, and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders
- Experience of working in a lettings and housing procurement environment
- Creative approach to solving problems
- Showing resilience when dealing with difficult situations
- A self-starter who can work on their own initiative
Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.
We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.
Working at Crisis
Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.
Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.
As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:
- A competitive salary. Please note our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage
- Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy
- Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
- 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay
- Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
- Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly
- And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)
Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.
When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.
How do I apply?
Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.
Closing date: Sunday 22nd February 2026 at 23:59
Interview date: Thursday 5th March 2026, in-person at Crisis Skylight Birmingham, 25 Heath Mill Lane, B9 4AE
Interview process: Competency based interview
AI in Job Applications
We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences
Accessibility
We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.
Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Complementary Therapist to join our team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices as Complementary Therapies Lead.
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have been bereaved. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, psychological and medical care.
At the heart of what we do are our dedicated staff; their exceptional commitment and professionalism means every family has the opportunity to make every moment count.
It’s a great time to join Shooting Star Children’s Hospices as we have a growing therapies team, supporting families through complementary therapies, arts therapies and EMDR therapy.
About the role
As Complementary Therapies Lead, you will lead the delivery of high-quality complementary therapies to children, parents and families of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. This includes families affected by a child’s life-limiting condition, and families who experience the sudden and unexpected death of their child. The Complementary Therapies service includes individual treatments and therapeutic support groups, to help ease physical discomfort, reduce anxiety, and promote emotional wellbeing in a safe and nurturing environment.
About you
This role requires a minimum of two years post qualification experience as a Complementary Therapist practicing aromatherapy and holistic massage. You may have additional qualification in reflexology, Indian head massage, or acupuncture.
We are looking for someone with experience of working with individuals of different ages and those who have experienced trauma or significant mental health struggles You will be passionate about utilising the complementary therapies for easing a wide range of difficulties, including helping children with medical conditions, carers struggling with the emotional and physical difficulties that arise in caring for their life-limited child and families who have experienced the death of their child.
You must be registered with the Complementary and National Healthcare Council or other professional body (or able to apply and confirm membership ahead of appointment).
Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
What we offer
In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:
Pension scheme
- NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
Annual leave
- 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
- 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
Contractual benefits
- Generous sick pay scheme
- Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
- Flexible working arrangements
- Death in service benefits
- Reimbursed professional membership fees
- Eye care
- Employee referral scheme
- Blue Light discount card
Health and wellbeing
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Occupational Health
- Mindfulness sessions
- Cycle to work scheme
- Mental Health First Aiders
Anticipated Start Date: 04/05/2026
Closing Date: 28/02/2026
Job Title: Deputy Service Manager
Location: Derby City (on-site role)
Salary: £35,674.05 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Deputy Service Manager to support survivors who have been impacted by domestic abuse. We are recruiting for a Deputy Service Manager who is passionate about supporting survivors who are impacted by domestic abuse. In this role you will provide line management and support to community-based staff who support survivors of domestic abuse across Derby City. This will include providing supervision on complex casework, overseeing operational emergencies and ensuring high standards of casework.
The Deputy service manager will join our management team to assist the service manager in the delivery and development of high-quality support to survivors accessing our community-based services in Derby City. In this role you will ensure the smooth running of high-quality service to support survivors of domestic abuse. This will include managing staff teams to ensure effective advocacy is provided to survivors who are at medium/standard risk and their children.
A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive outreach service
Suitable candidates must have proven experience of providing direct emotional and practical support, and of managing case work. In addition, you must have experience of managing and motivating staff, knowledge of domestic abuse issues, experience of providing support to survivors, and experience of working in community-based services
As a member of the management team, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call service, on a rota basis, responding to out of hours emergencies.
This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.
Closing Date: 09:00am 2 February 2026
Interview Date: 11 ansd 12 March 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Citizens UK has played a pioneering role in introducing and developing community sponsorship of refugees in the UK. In response to the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015, we campaigned successfully for the introduction of community sponsorship in the UK. Citizens UK was then instrumental in proving the model can work in the UK and through training, advocacy, and coordination, we have helped hundreds of local groups welcome thousands of refugee families. In 2022, Citizens UK expanded its work by launching the Communities for Ukraine programme, matching Ukrainian refugees with UK hosts and most recently has run Communities for Afghans, resettling dozens of refugees. Throughout, it has combined grassroots organising with national advocacy to build a sustainable, community-led model of refugee resettlement. In 2025, we campaigned successfully to persuade the Government to introduce ‘named sponsorship’, giving communities greater choice in who they would sponsor. This creates a huge opportunity to grow community sponsorship and to enable UK civil society to step up and honour our proud tradition of offering sanctuary.
Head of Community Sponsorship Role
This is a rare opportunity to lead Citizens UK’s community sponsorship campaign and help build the movement that will be at the heart of a community-led welcome.
This new role comes at an exciting and crucial time, as we seek to build and embed this new form of named community sponsorship in the UK. As Head of Community Sponsorship you will lead on our strategy to develop named sponsorship as a transformative part of the UK’s approach to refugee resettlement and community power. This will involve building a broad-base of civil society partners ready to sponsor refugees and to add their voice to the campaign. You will lead on the campaigning and advocacy strategy as we ensure quality in the Government policy and cross-Party political support. Citizens UK acts as the Lead Sponsor for local community sponsorship groups and you will oversee their ongoing support and further engagement.
The role foster collaboration with Citizens UK Organisers and alliances, develop sustainable funding strategies, and ensure alignment with Citizens UK’s broader migration and transformation goals. The role will work alongside Citizens UK’s Migrant and Refugee Organising Team and will contribute to the efforts to build the power to create a more welcoming country. You will lead on relationships with senior stakeholders, policy makers, and funders, and support the creation of campaigns and resources to expand public awareness and support for community sponsorship. With responsibilities spanning communications, and external representation, the role is key to shaping Citizens UK’s refugee resettlement strategy and building its national impact as a driver of cohesion.
Working as the Head of Community Sponsorship for Citizens UK, reporting to the Assistant Director for Migrant and Refugee Organising (MARO), your main responsibilities will include:
Career Pathway Headings
Objectives
Contribute to Citizens UK and Project Strategic Objectives
• Build a broad and deep engagement across civil society in named sponsorship, demonstrating the potential for scale and the big tent of support.
• Develop and implement campaign approaches that secure policy goals and build cross-Party political support.
• Develop strategy that develops the leadership of local Citizens members and refugees, strengthens civic institutions and builds trust across difference.
Build and Manage Projects & Achieve Work Targets Effectively
• Oversee multiple work strands, working in partnership.
• Develop and manage project workplans, KPIs and budgets, ensuring delivery to time, standard, and impact goals.
• Establish systems for performance tracking, evaluation, and continuous improvement across project streams.
Learning, Expertise, Wellbeing & Inclusion
• Act as a senior expert in sponsorship strategy; coach and mentor staff and partners, and facilitate learning across departments and projects.
• Influence and lead the integration of equity, wellbeing and refugee voice into strategic decisions and delivery frameworks.
Develop and Manage External Relationships
• Lead high-level relationships with national and senior stakeholders, including government departments (e.g. Home Office), civil society institutions and funders.
• Build and manage partnerships that advance sponsorship reform and position Citizens UK as a sector leader.
• Ensure stakeholder experience is consistently excellent and take the lead on resolving reputational risks or tensions.
Communications
• Act as a senior spokesperson for Citizens UK’s sponsorship work in the media, at public events, and in government or civil society forums.
• Lead the design and implementation of a high-profile communications strategy to influence narratives on refugee welcome and community leadership.
• Ensure communications align with ethical storytelling principles and amplify sponsor and refugee voices responsibly.
Develop and Manage Internal Relationships
• Lead and develop high-performing cross-functional teams, with clear expectations, direction, and collaboration structures.
• Effectively line manage senior staff and foster shared leadership culture across sponsorship and Citizens UK team
• Ensure that the community sponsorship strategy is aligned with Citizens UK’s other campaigns and work closely with other members of Migrant and Refugee Organising team.
• Contribute to senior leadership structures, including strategic planning processes and transformation initiatives.
Generate Income and Resources
• Initiate and grow significant and sustainable income streams to fund Citizens UK’s sponsorship work.
• Develop and lead high-value funding partnerships with trusts, foundations and strategic donors.
• Demonstrate strong budget oversight and ensure effective use of financial and human resources in sponsorship delivery.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Qualifications
-
Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field such as migration, social policy, international development, or community organising (D)
-
Management or leadership qualification, or relevant CPD in project or programme management, public policy, or team leadership (D)
Experience
-
Proven experience in leading complex, multi-stakeholder programmes related to refugee resettlement, community organising, or social impact (E)
-
Demonstrable track record of strategic leadership in a charity or community-focused setting (E)
-
Experience of managing cross-functional teams to deliver against ambitious organisational goals (E)
-
Experience of developing and sustaining strategic partnerships with civil society organisations, local authorities, or government departments (E)
-
Experience in leading campaigning and influencing strategies to secure changes in Government policy (E)
-
Experience of designing and implementing systems for monitoring, evaluation, and learning to track progress and report to funders and or government stakeholders (D)
-
Demonstrable experience of driving collaborative campaigns or outreach efforts that engage diverse communities (E)
Key skills and knowledge
-
Strong leadership and team coordination skills – able to motivate, direct, and support multidisciplinary teams across multiple workstreams (E)
-
Excellent project and performance management skills – able to set strategic priorities, delegate effectively, and ensure accountability (E)
-
In-depth knowledge of refugee resettlement systems, community sponsorship models, and UK migration policy, including recent developments affecting Afghan and Ukrainian pathways (E)
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Knowledge and skills in community organising and an understanding of how community sponsorship and campaigning connect with and support the method and aims of organising (E)
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Outstanding written and verbal communication – confident in producing compelling cases for support, policy communications, and public messaging (E)
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Ability to design and deliver stakeholder engagement strategies, with a clear understanding of influencing policy and public opinion (E)
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Skilled in developing and managing strategic partnerships with funders, policy-makers, and community groups (E)
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills – able to assess complex challenges, identify risks, and implement effective solutions (E)
Personal qualities & values
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A mission-driven leader with a passion for refugee rights, community empowerment, and social justice (E)
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Politically astute and able to navigate relationships with stakeholders from civil society, government, and grassroots communities (E)
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Collaborative and people-centred, able to work constructively across teams and with volunteers, refugees, and community leaders (E)
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Committed to embedding refugee leadership and lived experience into programme design and delivery (E)
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Resilient, adaptable, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced and evolving policy environment (E)
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Comfortable working within an accountable team culture – open to feedback, reflective practice, and continuous improvement (E)
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Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends, and to travel when necessary to support programme delivery (E)
Note:
At Citizens UK, we work with communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.


